Python mode not working for windows

[JimAtLang]

Most appropriate sub-area of Processing 4?

I'm not sure

Processing version

4.5.2-windows

Operating system

Windows 11

Bug description

I downloaded the Python version. When I try to switch a sketch to Python mode it says "cannot start Python sketch runner."

Steps to reproduce this

1. Download Python mode

2. Start a sketch

3. Switch to Python mode

snippet

// Paste your code below :)

void setup() {

}

void draw() {

}

Additional context

No response

Would you like to work on the issue?

No, I’m just reporting the issue

[SableRaf]

Hi @JimAtLang and welcome!

Unfortunately, Processing.py was never fully ported to Processing 4.

The recommended path for now is to use Processing 3.5.4 with Python Mode for Processing 3

[JimAtLang]

Thanks for letting me know there's no Processing 4 for Python. I downloaded version 3.5.4, but it also does not work. While the IDE does open, the "run" button doesn't do anything. I tried with your own examples just to make sure it was nothing with my code. I assume it must have worked at some point but it doesn't now, at least not for me. I'm just letting you know because it probably is a waste of your time getting issue reports from people like me who expect the program to work when it clearly doesn't. Since you're a volunteer organization giving away a product for free I certainly can't expect you'd fix that. But anyone reading your website <https://py.processing.org/> would expect that the program exists and works. It seems to me you'd save yourself time answering issue reports if you simply took Python off the website and app so no one expects that there is a Processing for Python and wastes their own time trying to set it up. Or at least make clear at the top of the Python for Processing page that it's not finished and won't work without a lot of extra trouble on the part of anyone trying to use it. Thanks again for everything you do. Maintaining open source software is a lot of work for not much reward, and I appreciate anyone who does so.

…

On Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 10:41 AM Raphaël de Courville < ***@***.***> wrote: *SableRaf* left a comment (processing/processing4#1450) <#1450 (comment)> Hi @JimAtLang <https://github.com/JimAtLang> and welcome! Unfortunately, Processing.py was never fully ported to Processing 4. The recommended path for now is to use Processing 3.5.4 with Python Mode for Processing 3 — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1450 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADXOP5VDFNADLYUMLTEFBID4N4HZ5AVCNFSM6AAAAACWAVO7DGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTSNRXGQZTCMZUGA> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

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[vsquared]

Have you looked at py5 for Processing: https://py5coding.org? Runs well in Thonny editor.

[glvjr]

Hello @JimAtLang

The recommended path for now is to use Processing 3.5.4 with Python Mode for Processing 3

I can run examples available in the Processing 3.5.4 IDE with Python Mode for Processing 3 on a W10 PC.

I didn't test them all, but the few I tried ran successfully.

[gacuxz]

Latest Processing version working with Python Mode for Processing 4 mode is 4.3.4. Using latest stable Python version 3.14.3.

[webwarrior-ws]

I managed to run latest version (4.5.6) (portable) on Windows 10.
Prerequisite for that is that path to Processing executable does not contain any digits.